The Washington critic., 1887-03-24

and, trembling violently, she awaited
the coming of the stranger.
"The young person that wishes to
see you, Miss Crayton," said the SER
want, conducting a young girl into the
room, and then retiring.
The young girl stood before Adele,
pale and frightened.
"You have something of Importance
TO say to me :" said Adele, In an inter-
rogative voice, pointing to chair.
Eyes, Miss Crayton, | have Travelled
miles to sec you, and pray God that
and to Adelle's surprise. the strange
young creature, instead of taking the
chair that Adele motioned to, threw
herself on her knees before her. "An.
other day, and i would be too late, !"
continued the girl miss Crayton, |
came to speak to you of the man you
arc TO marry on the morrow"
vernon Hasbrook ?" cried Adele,
In q suffocating voice.
"Yos, Miss Crayton, l came to beg
Vernon Hasbrook of you. lie belongs
to me, Miss Crayton. Miss Crayton,
do not rob me Of him. IL"
Her voice failed her, but she clutched
wildly at Adelle's dress, while sobs
shook her frame.
"Who are you, that asks me to give
up Vernon Hasbrook2 Are you-are
you his wifet" asked Adele, in an In.
tense voice.
mo; but he has promised to make
me his wife. He will, II you do not
marry him." cried the girl, In falter-
ing voice.
"Vernon Hasbrook is my promised
husband; why should give him up to
your"
why" and the girl rose, and throw.
Ing aside the cloak that cnvcloped her,
cried; "Look at me, and II woman $
heart beats In your bosom, you will
have nothing to do with Vernon Has.
brook. Reputation, everything in life
worth living for, are at stake. l am
Vernon Hasbrook's wife In the sight Of
Heaven
"You are shameless creaturc-leavc
my presence at Oncep" cried Adele.
"Oh, Heaven do not drive me from
your house now lie has seen me
coming here; he knows my errand; he
Is watching for me; he will kill me ~
and the girl sank on her knees once
more.
But Adele closed her ears to the
girls appeal. Her only fear was of
losing tde man she loved, and she cried
Leave my house at once j will
not harbor such creature as you ~
The girl rose, without a word, and
staggered from the room.
Adele watched her until she disap.
pcarod down the stairs.
"'rhank Heaven, she has gone" she
murmured, sinking in chair. ooh,
should rather suffer thousand deaths
than give up Vernon-but If what she
said Is true?'
Adele started up as she asked her.
self this question. She would not lis.
ten TO the girls story; she hardly real.
lied what she was doing when she
drove her from her presence with those
cruel words. Her only thought was
of herself and of her own happiness.
What q heartless wretch am. Poor
crcature / might have listened to her
story; / might have kept her here uu.
til learned the truth"
| She walked over to the window, as
she spoke, and watched the path the
girl must take to leave the grounds
Presently the cloakcd figure appeared,
walking in a manner that said plainly
she feared TO proceed. Adele was
about TO throw up the window sash and
call to her, when there was flash, a
report of pistol, and the cloaked fig
ure lay PROSTATE on the ground.
| The young creature had met heI
death; but at whose hands no one even
knew but Adele Crayton. There was
no marriage next day at the Craytor
mansion. The bride-elect lay In wild
delirium; the handsome groom wa,
waited for, but in vain. He was never
seen again.
Adele recovered. She lived to re
gret having deceived William Everton
II Seaside Library.